Compressor



Feb. 24, 1925.

E. WILSON cournzsson Filed Dec. '16. 1921 2 sheets-snee: 2 Y

Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD WILSON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO WILSON ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSORI;

COMPRESSOR.

Application filed December v16, 1921. Serial No. 522,736.

To all whom t may concern.

Beit known that I, EDWARD WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a new and useful Compressor, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to compressors.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved compressor embodying a novel construction and arrangement for utilizing a liquid medium between a pair of rotors for obtaining compression of air as an incident to the rotation of the rotors in the same direction.

Another object of the invention is to pro- Vide an improved compressor embodying the novel construction mentioned, and also elnbodying novel means for admitting air into Vthe compressor and for discharging the compressed air therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved compressor having an inner rotor and an outer rotor enclosing the inner rotor and arranged to contain liquid, and -novel means for utilizing the liquid to obtain compression as an incident tothe rotation of the rotors in the same direction by the centrifugal force of the liquid.

Another object of the invention is to obtain all of the advantages and improvements hereinafter disclosed or that are obtainable by the invention in whatever form it may be embodied.

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the compressor constructed in ac cordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fi 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing t e construction for controlling the discharge of the com ress ed air.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, the stator comprises a housing 1 in which the rotors are supported for cperation. The outer rotor within said housing is in the form of a chamber within which the inner rotor and the liquid compressing medium are contained. As shown, the outer rotor comprises a member 2 forming the chamber and having an annular ian e 3 in connection with the end wall thereo .forming a hub which is rotative on an inwardly extended axial portion 4 of the housing 1.

The opposite end of the outer rotor is closed by a wally 5 having a shaft 6 in connection therewith journaled for rotation in a bearing 7 supported by the Istator. The shaft 6 is equipped with a coupling device 8 whereby said shaft and the outer rotor which is in connection therewith may be rotated. The bearing/7, as shown, is within an oil receptacle 9, an oil rin 10 encircling the shaft and operating within the oil in a manner to supply lubricant to the bearing asP an incident to the operation of the compressor. Endwise or axial movements of the outer rotor are prevented by proper contact with the stator.

The inner rotor is supported within the outer rotor described, and the axis of the inner rotor is eccentric with respect to the axis of the outer rotor. As shown the inner rotor is in the form of a hollow body 11 whose outside diameter is less than the inside diameter of the outer rotor. The plate 12 is bolted or otherwise secured to one end of the rotor body 11 and is provided with an axial extension 13l journaled for rotation in a bearing in the end of the stator 1 opposite from the bearing 7. By reference to Fig. l it will be seen that the axis of the member 13 is eccentric relative to the axis of the hub 3. The wall 12 is spaced from the end of the rotor body 11 by lugs or spacers 14 so thatan enclosed space 15 is provided at the end' of the inner rotor. The rotor body 11 is formed with an axial extension 16 extending through the axial member 13 leaving an annular space 17 between \the axial parts 13 and 16. Oil for lubrication purposes is supplied to the bearing on the axial part 13 by means of an oil ring 18 operating within an oil well 19.

The shaft 13 terminates in an air chamber 20 while the shaft 16 terminates at an air chamber 21 which is out of communication with the chamber 20. The chamber 21 is provided with an air inlet 22 sothat as the rotors operate air will be drawn through the inlet 22 and the shaft 16 into the inner rotor and discharged therefrom into the space between the inner and outer rotors and nally compressed and discharged through the space 15 and the passage 17 into the chamber 20 and through a passage 23 to a point of use.

The periphery of the inner rotor is formed with a number of wells 24 which are out of direct communication with the interior of the rotor but which communicate with the space 15 through angular or V-shaped passages 25. Venting passages 26 branch from the inner ends of the angular or V-shaped passages 25 to the wells 24 with which the respective passages 25 communicate. A number of radial passages 27 communicate from the interior of the inner rotor body 11 to the periphery thereof.

There is one of the angular passages 25 with its venting passage 26 from each of the wells 24, and there is one of the radial passages 27 for each of the wells 24, but the passages 27 do not open into the wells.

The inside of the outer rotor is provided with a number of ribs 28 extending radially' to about the depthlof the liquid, when the rotors are in rotation, and also extending across the inner periphery of the outer rotor. These ribs serve to assist in the formation of the liquid ring when the rotors are in rotation, centrifugal force also acting to form the liquid ring.

A sufficient quantity of liquid is within the outer rotor. When said rotors are in operation, centrifugal force will form a liquid ring within the` outer rotor and around the inner rotor. The li uid ring at the bottom is out of contact with the bottom of the wells 24 for about one-third of the circumference of the inner rotor so that the wells 24 become emptied for that distance. When the liquid leaves the wells said wells become lled with air. However,

the wells are graduallyT filled toward the top the air in the wells being compressed and forced through the angular passages p 25 into the space 15 and thence through the rotor and com letel passage 17 mto the chamber 20 and out through the discharge passage 23. The eluent ends of the passages 25 open into an annular s ace 29 into which a suilicient quantity o the uid passes to form a liquid seal for said passages. The liquid seal, how ever, yields under the greater pressure from within the wells permltting the compressed air to pass into the space 15'and thence outwardly.-

The radial thickness of depth of the liquid ring that is maintained within the outer rotor and around the inner rotor when the machine is in operation is lsuch as to immerse the upper portion of the inner ll the wells 24 for about two-thir s of t e circumference ofthe inner rotor.

This will be understood by reference to Fig. 2 in which a dotted line is shown indicating the radial thickness or depth of the liquid ring.' Thus ,all the air in the wells is successively compressed and forced outwardly through the angular passages 25.

'complishes By this arrangement complete and effective compression is continuously obtained when the machine is in operation.

l As the air between the rotors is removed and compressed, new air is admitted as an incident to the operation of the machine. The new air enters through the hollow shaft 16 which opens into the inner rotor whence the air passes through the passages 27 into the space between the rotors. Thus, air is continuously supplied to the space between the rotors as fast as the air is compressed and removed therefrom.

In operation the outer rotor is driven by power applied to the coupling device 8. As the outer rotor rotates a liquid ring is .formed within the outer rotor and around the inner rotor, and as a result of this, the inner rotor will be rotated in the same direction with the outer rotor. As the wells 24 containing the air are filled with liquid, the air in said wells is compressed and forced out through the angular passages 25, the radial branches of the passages 25 being emptied by centrifugal force at the outer side of the inner rotor. So also the air. inlet passages 27 are emptied, suction aiding this action as also its centrifugal force.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention is of a highly efficient and simplified nature and it is clear that it acall of its intended objects and pur ses. The device is well adapted for a wide variety of uses, commercial as well as domestic. i

I do not restrict myself unessentially in any particular, since it is apparent that the construction and arrangement of the parts may be widely varied without departure from the nature and principle of the invention.

vWhat I claim and desire to secure by Let` ters Patent is 1. A compressor comprising an outer rotor arranged to contain a liquid, an inner rotor within the outer rotor arranged to receive rotative impetusV from the liquid within the outer rotor when the outer rotor is rotated, wells in the periphery of the inner rotor, passages through the inner rotor for conducting air into the space between the rotors, passages through the inner rotor from said Wells for conducting air from said wells, and means for maintaining a liquid seal at the outer side of the inner rotor for the outer ends of said last named passages.

2. A compressor comprising an outer rotor arranged to contain liquid, an inner rotor within the outer rotor arranged to be rotated by the liquid as an incident to rotation of thel outer rotor, wells in the periphery of the inner rotor, angular passages in the inner rotor for conducting air from said wells to the outside of said inner rotor, and

an element secured to the inner rotor and forming a space communicating with vsaid passages for conductin air leaving said passages to a point of discharge.

3. A compressor comprising an outer rotor, an inner rotor Within the outer rotor, Wells in the periphery of the inner rotor, an axial member rotatively supporting the inner rotor, a passage through said member opening through the inner rotor outside of said Wells for conducting air into the space between said rotors, means forming a space at one end of the inner rotor, passagesfrom said wells to said space, and a passage for conducting air from said space to a' point of discharge.

4. A compressor comprising an outer rotor arranged to contain liquid, a connection for rotating the outer rotor, an inner rotor within the outer rotor, an axial member rotatively supporting the inner rotor, a passage through said member for conducting air into the inner rotor, passages opening through the inner rotor for conducting air therefrom into the space between said rotors, Wells in the periphery of the inner rotor, a passage from one end of the inner rotor around said axial member, and means for conducting air from said wells into said last named passage. v

5. A compressor comprising an outer rotor arranged to contain liquid, an inner rotor within the outer rotor, an axial member rotatively supporting the inner rotor, passages through said axial member and through the inner rotor for conducting air into the space between said rotors, non-communicating wells in the periphery of the inner rotor, a confined space at one end of the inner rotor, angular passages from said wells opening into said space, and means 'forming a passage from said space around said axial member for conducting air from said space.

6. A compressor comprising an outer rotor arranged to contain liquid, a series of radial ribs on the inside of each end of the outer rotor, an inner rotor within the outer rotor extending between the radial ribs at the upper side of the outer rotor as the outer rotor rotates, passages opening through the peripheryT of the inner rotor for conducting air into the space between the rotors, and passages through the inner rotor for conducting air from said space.

A compressor comprising an outer rotor arranged to contain liquid, an inner rotor, an axial member rotatively supporting the inner rotor Within the outer rotor, a passage through said member for conducting air into the inner rotor, passages opening through the periphery of the inner rotor v for conducting air from within the inner rotor into the space between said rotors, an element attached to one end of the inner rotor and forming a conned space and forming a passage from said space for conduct-ing air therefrom, and passages through the inner rotor opening into said space.

l8. A compressor, comprising an outer rotor arranged to contain liquid, ribs in the outer rotor for facilitating rotation of the liquid with the outer rotor when said rotor is rotated to cause the liquid to form aring within the outer rotor, an inner rotor mounted Within the outer rotor in position to have the peripheral portion thereof at one side of its axis immersed in the liquid ring so formed and to have a peripheral portion thereof at the other side of its axis out of the liquid ring, wells in the periphery of the inner rotor arranged to receive air when out of the liquid, and arranged to be illed with liquid as the peripheral portion of the rotor containing the wells moves through the liquid, passages opening through the periphery of the inner rotor for conducting air to the space between the rotors, vpassages for conducting air from said wells as the wells are filled with liquid, and a passage for conducting the air from the lnner rotor.

9. A compressor, comprising an outer rotor arranged to contain liquid, ribs in the outer rotor for facilitating rotation of the liquid with the outer rotor when said rotor is rotated to cause the liquid to form a ring within the outer rotor, an inner rotor mounted within the outer rotor in position to have the peripheral portion thereof at one side of its axis immersed in the liquid ring so formed and to have the peripheral portion thereof at the other side of its axis out of the liquid ring, wells in the periphery of the inner rotor arranged to receive air when out of the liquid, and arranged to be lled with liquid as the peripheral portion of the rotor containing the wellsl moves through the liquid, passages opening through the periphery of the inner rotor for conducting air to the space between the rotors, passages for conducting air from said wells as the wells are filled' with liquid, means for maintaining a liquid seal at the eiiuent ends of said passages, and a passage for conducting the air from the inner rotor.

10. A compressor, comprising an outer rotor arranged to contain liquid, ribs in` the outer rotor for facilitating rotation of the liquid with the outer rotor when said rotor 1s rotated to cause the liquid to form a ring within the outer rotor, an inner rotor mounted within the outer rotor in position to have the peripheral portion thereof at one side of its axis immersed in the liquid ring so formed and to have the peripheral portion thereof at the other side of its axis out of the liquid` ring, wells in the periphery` of the inner rotor arranged to relol) filled with liquid, meansfor maintaining a. liquid seal at the elluent ends of said passages, a passage for conducting the air from the inner rotor, and passages for admitting air into the space between the inner rotor end the liquid ring formed as aforeseid.

EDWARD WILSON. 

